Indonesia police to probe sinking of scorched ferry

JAKARTA, Feb 26 (Reuters) Indonesian police are to investigate how a fire-damaged ferry capsized as officials and journalists inspected the charred hulk, officials said today.

A television cameraman was killed when the anchored vessel went down near Jakarta after officials from the national transport safety board, police and journalists went aboard yesterday.

Rescuers were searching for another cameraman and two police officers who were still missing, said Colonel Didin Zainal Abidin, who coordinates the navy rescue team. A reporter was in hospital in serious condition.

Legislator Abdullah Azwar Anas said yesterday's incident demonstrated shoddy investigation management.

''It was extremely embarrassing and it was sheer recklessness,'' he was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.

At least 42 people died in last week's fire aboard the Levina I which broke out soon after dawn on Thursday as the ferry headed from Jakarta to Bangka island off Sumatra.

On Saturday the scorched hulk was towede to a point just a few miles from Jakarta's main port.

Setyo Rahardjo, chairman of the National Transport Safety Commission, said the sinking was totally unexpected and would require a police investigation.

''We did not think about the possibility of the ship sinking because it was just fine when it was towed 50 miles in the sea,'' he said by telephone.

He said officials had boarded the vessel only after a clearance from marine police that it was free from gas.

Journalists had been warned of the danger of going aboard and told to wear life jackets but some had refused, said Colonel Abidin of the navy search team.

''There was a briefing, there was a warning from the port administrator that the ship was dangerous,'' he told Reuters.

''Some journalists refused to wear life vests, saying they were cumbersome. It was a pure accident,'' he said.

Carlo Tewu, Jakarta chief police detective, said national police would investigate the sinking.

Preliminary findings suggest the ferry caught fire after a blaze in a truck carrying inflammable chemicals on the lower deck.

About 300 people are known to have survived the blaze, but the number of missing was still unclear because some passengers were apparently not listed on the official manifest.

The government has revoked the ferry operator's licence for failing to list children on the manifest.

It is common in Indonesia for people to sneak on to ferries or bribe crew to let them aboard for less than the price of a ticket, meaning their names are not recorded.

Ferries are a popular means of transport among the 17,000 islands of Indonesia, where sea connections are cheaper and more available than air routes. But safety standards are not always strictly enforced and accidents occur fairly often.

REUTERS SHB DS1145